Make the CEP report public

THE announcement made by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the Council of Eminent Persons’ (CEP) report may not be made public is most surprising, unexpected and even disturbing.

He made the statement at the Cities 4.0 and Business 4.0 International Conference and Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

We had all been waiting with bated breath for the revelations of this CEP Report, for over 100 days now – but most of us will now be badly disappointed by possibly being denied the sight of this important report.

Most Malaysians will be upset that the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, which promised this CEP Report, now may not want to make it open for the public appreciation and public interests.

We would ask why should the CEP report be even considered so secret that the CEP Reports Recommendations may not be revealed? What is the basis and rationale for this unusual secrecy?

Why has the report been deemed to be so secret, when it was prepared by very learned, trusted, expert and eminent Malaysians?

The rakyat have the natural right to be fully informed of the thoughts, ideas and issues raised, and presented to our own government.

After all the PH Government was voted inter alia, on the promises of more transparency, better consultation and higher integrity, so, please, why the change of heart and mind on the part of the newly elected government?

Have we waited 61 years for genuine change and only to now get frustrated and even disillusioned?

On behalf of the majority of Malaysians, I would therefore appeal to the wise, very experienced and inspiring Mahathir, to please make the CEP Report public.

Please have faith to leave it to the people and the voters to judge the report’s merits, feasibility and acceptability, in our best long term, national interests.

Tan Sri Ramon Navaratanam Chairman Asli Centre for Public Policy Studies